Latest News In India

Pranab Mukherjee defends Indo-Pak joint statement, Opposition walks out

NEW DELHI: Even as the ruling UPA emphatically and vociferously defended the signing of the recent India-Pakistan joint statement in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha on Thursday afternoon, specifically protesting on the issue of Balochistan and the delinking of terror from the composite dialogue process.

Defending Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand on the statement, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was the external affairs minister not too long ago, said India's foreign policy was an extension of national interest, and New Delhi had not compromised on this at any stage in the past or at the recent Red Sea resort summit meeting.

"Our stand on terror remains undiluted. Our country's foreign policy is not based on the whims of one political party. We have not compromised India's sovereignty," said a highly-charged Mukherjee in spite of constant heckling from the opposition benches.

Stating that India's foreign policy is of nearly 5000 years standing, Mukherjee echoed Dr Singh's stand on the joint statement saying that it was necessary.

Ruling out war as an option, Pranab Mukherjee said that there was no alternative but to keep talking to Pakistan but made it clear that there was no surrender by the government on the issue of combating cross-border terrorism.

"We can't erase Pakistan. It's going to exist. War is no solution," Mukherjee said while underlining the importance of keeping talks going with Pakistan.

"Pakistan must dismantle the terror mechanism operating from its soil. India is not interested in Balochistan. The reference to Balochistan in the Indo-Pak Joint statement was a unilateral mention by Pakistan," he added.

In apparent reference to an opposition jibe that the present government was made to ink the joint statement in Egypt because of pressure from Washington, Mukherjee said there was no pressure from anyone or any country.

The opposition BJP took on the government saying that they did not believe that the UPA felt that foreign policy was an extension of national interest.

Leader of Opposition L K Advani asked what was the need for the government of the day to agree to have Balochistan mentioned for the first time in a joint statement by India and Pakistan.

Endorsing former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha's warning that India would find it very difficult to live down this particular aspect of the joint statement for years to come, Advani said it was not enough to say that New Delhi's hands were clean on the issue. He said the government's reply did not justify the inclusion of Balochistan in the statement.

When external affairs minister SM Krishna endorsed the PM and Mr Mukherjee's stands on the joint statement and on the issues of terror and Balochistan, the BJP said there was no point in participating in the debate any further and walked out.

The government's defence of the joint statement came after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi came out in full support of Manmohan Singh.

Addressing the meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) here on Thursday, Sonia said, "The party fully supports and welcomes the Prime Minister's reply on the Indo-Pak joint statement."

"Talks with Pakistan can resume once it actually takes action on terror and not allow its soil to be used for anti-India activities," she added.

Supporting the Prime Minister's statement, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said: "The party had made its stand very clear on PM's reply. I don't think that after the party president has spoken, there is any need for anyone to add or subtract from it."

Several parliamentarians complimented Dr Singh for his convincing speech in the Parliament on the Indo-Pak joint statement, at the dinner hosted by Sonia Gandhi for the party MPs on Wednesday.

Party general secretary Rahul Gandhi also praised Dr Singh by describing his speech as convincing.

"The speech was very good and the Prime Minister is always convincing," Rahul had said.

Intervening in Wednesday's debate on the Indo-Pak joint statement in the parliament, Singh said it was "in our vital interest to make sincere efforts to live in peace with Pakistan" and emphasized that India wanted good relations with Pakistan.

Singh said: "Unless we talk directly to Pakistan, we will have to rely on third parties to do so. That route has severe limitations as to its effectiveness".

He, however, added that "despite the best of intentions, we cannot move forward if terrorist attacks launched from Pakistani soil continue to kill and injure our citizens, here and abroad. That is the national position."

'India’s foreign policy not based on whims of one party'

New Delhi:Even as the ruling UPA emphatically and vociferously defended the signing of the recent India-Pakistan joint statement in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha on Thursday afternoon, specifically protesting on the issue of Balochistan and the de-linking of terror from the composite dialogue process.

Defending Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand on the statement, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was an external Affairs Minister not too long ago, said India’s foreign policy was an extension of national interest, and New Delhi had not compromised on this at any stage in the past or at the recent Red Sea resort summit meeting.

“Our stand on terror remains undiluted. Our country’s foreign policy is not based on the whims of one political party. We have not compromised India’s sovereignty,” said a highly charged Mukherjee in spite of constant heckling from the opposition benches. Stating that India’s foreign policy is of nearly 5000 years standing, Mukherjee echoed Dr. Singh’s stand on the joint statement saying that it was necessary.

“Pakistan must dismantle the terror mechanism operating from its soil. India is not interested in Balochistan. The reference to Balochistan in the Indo-Pak Joint statement was a unilateral mention by Pakistan," Mukherjee added.

In apparent reference to an opposition jibe that the present government was made to ink the joint statement in Egypt because of pressure from Washington, Mukherjee said there was no pressure from anyone or any country.

The opposition BJP took on the government saying that they did not believe that the UPA felt that foreign policy was an extension of national interest.

J-K Governor dismisses PDP charge, asks Omar to continue

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra dismissed PDP's allegation that Omar Abdullah was involved in the 2006 sex scandal and asked him to continue discharging his responsibilities as Chief Minister.

The Governor while turning down Omar's offer to step down said there was no truth in the allegations levelled against him in the assembly by PDP leader Muzaffar Hussein Beigh about his alleged involvement in the sex scandal.

"The Governor has advised the Chief Minister that, based on the information supplied to him by the Union Home Ministry, there is no basis for Omar seeking to resign," the Governor's spokesperson said.

Omar had resigned on July 28 after Beigh alleged on the floor of the House saying the Chief Minister was an accused in the scandal.

The Governor advised the Chief Minister to most vigorously devote himself to discharging responsibilities of J and K Chief Minister.

Jackson's mother gets permanent custody of his children

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson’s mother
will retain the permanent custody of his three children in an out-of-the court agreement reached with the pop star's ex-wife Debbie Rowe.

Rowe, who is the biological mother of Jackson's two elder children, will be granted "meaningful visitation rights," ABC News reported quoting a source.

According to the agreement, Katherine Jackson, 79, will maintain the sole custody of Prince Michael-I, 12, Paris-Michael Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael-II "Blanket", 7, while Rowe will retain her legal parental rights.

Katherine and Rowe's lawyers plan to bring the agreement to Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday for the approval of judge Mitchell Beckloff, who had appointed Jackson's mother as the temporary custodian of the children.

Rowe had earlier indicated to fight for the custody rights of the two children but she decided to give up custody rights after reaching a deal with Katherine, who is said to be close to the children.

"The discussions were amicable and cooperative, rather than a give and take negotiation. Both sides cooperated to reach agreement based solely on the best interest of the children," the source said.

Both Rowe and Katherine will reportedly split the cost of a child psychologist for the children, who have been living with Katherine and Jackson's extended family in Encino, California, since his death on June 25.

Domestic airlines suffer Rs 2445 crore losses in 2007-08: Govt

NEW DELHI: Government on Thursday said leading airlines in the country had suffered losses amounting to nearly Rs 2,445 crore during the 2007-08 fiscal.

"The leading airlines registered losses of Rs 2,444.84 crore last year," civil aviation minister Praful Patel said in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.

The minister added that Paramount Airways was the only airline which made profits during this period.

Kingfisher Red topped the list of loss-makers at Rs 798.35 crore.

While giving the data for the last three years, Patel said for the first time in the last three years, Jet Airways suffered losses to the tune of Rs 253.06 crore this year.

The minister said the leading airlines together suffered losses amounting to Rs 2,938.25 crore in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Replying to another query, Patel said the government has given no objection certificates to three airline companies -- Star Aviation, Jagson Airlines and ZAV Airways -- for operating scheduled regional transport air services.

In reply to another query, he said guidelines have been issued to domestic airlines for adopting effective training programmes for their Indian pilots to replace foreign pilots.

Indian Business News

Anil seeks probe into RIL's 'huge scandal'

New Delhi: Questioning clearance by junior Oil Ministry officials to the near four-fold hike in costs to Rs 45,000 crore for gas fields by Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, Anil Ambani demanded a probe into the "huge scandal."

"I am deeply concerned that RIL's capital expenditure of nearly Rs 45,000 crore on KG-D6 fields as confirmed in Parliament by the Petroleum Minister and which is nearly 33 per cent of India's total defence budget was cleared by a management committee..." he said in an e-mailed interview.

"The committee comprised of one junior level official each from the Petroleum Ministry and Director General of Hydrocarbon and two representatives of the contractor (RIL)...talk about conflict of interest," he said, adding that any expenditure above Rs 150 crore by any arm of government goes to the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs for approval.

Given the incredibly high stakes involved, the Comptroller and Auditor General and Central Vigilance Commission should examine relevant facts and find out if capex was overstated, Anil said, pointing that budgeted expenditure of RIL for peak production of 40 mmscmd was only Rs 12,000 crore in 2004.

Anil alleged that Petroleum Ministry, particularly after the changes in 2006 (when Murli Deora took over as minister), was colluding with RIL in its quest to make "super-normal profits of Rs 50,000 crore" at the cost of power and fertiliser sectors.

SC rejects RNRL's speedy trial plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court refused to take up a gas dispute between Reliance Industries and RNRL for final hearing on September 1, rejecting the prayer of Anil Group company for expeditious proceedings.

A bench headed Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said it will decide on the date of final hearing on September 1 when it will consider various petitions related to the dispute.

The RNRL prayer came up for mentioning and the company's counsel Mukul Rohtagi requested that final hearing be taken up on September 1 as the entire Bombay High Court record was before the apex court and nothing was left to be filed.

"All parties are here," he said, referring to Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, the government and gas users.

RIL counsel Harish Salve, however, questioned the need for early final hearing, saying "what public interest would this serve?"

The court enquired whether the petitioner wanted interim arrangement on the September 1 or the final order, Rohtagi said that RNRL was not looking for interim arrangement.

At this point Salve requested the court that there should be complete silence from all parties as people are going to the media.

Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said the government also wanted early resolution of the dispute.

The court said it will try to give an early date but the first week of September is not possible.

Seeking early resolution to the gas supply dispute involving Mukesh Ambani led RIL and Oil Ministry, Anil Ambani said that his group firm RNRL would approach the Supreme Court for final hearing on September 1.

Indian Sports News| Sports News

Dambulla (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 36 runs in Dambulla in a thriller where Pakistan's lower order batsmen did things that the top order were supposed to do.Eventually Pakistan was bundled out for 196 in 44.4 overs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka recovered from a top-order failure to post a competitive 232-9 in the first one-day international against Pakistan in Dambulla on Thursday.

The hosts had slipped to 131-6 by the 34th over after Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions at the Rangiri International Stadium.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews (43) led the late revival, with the last four Sri Lankan wickets adding 101 valuable runs before the 50 overs ran out.

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who missed the preceding Test series with a knee injury, marked his return with an aggressive 32 off 15 balls that included four boundaries and a six.

Pakistan, who lost the Tests 2-0, need 4.7 runs an over to take the lead in the five-match one-day series. Sri Lanka were unable to build partnerships against the accurate Pakistani attack, which revelled on the slow wicket.

Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya failed to take advantage of two dropped catches and fell for 15, while opening partner Upul Tharanga struggled to make 17.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara hit 36 and Mahela Jayawardene scored 33 in his 300th one-day international, but none of the other top order batsmen settled in.

The duo put on 48 for the third wicket before Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 38 runs to slip from a promising 93-2 in the 22nd over.

Players reluctant, BCCI may miss ICC deadline on WADA rules

New Delhi:India's top cricketers are reluctant to sign a controversial anti-doping clause which, they claim, infringes on their privacy, leaving the cricket board in a fix. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked all its affiliated members to get their players to sign the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) form by August 1 which leaves a rattled BCCI with little time to negotiate with the reluctant players.

The cricketers are unhappy with the clause which makes it necessary for them to give details about their availability

for one hour every day for random out-of-competition testing by WADA officials. The players have been asked to fill their "whereabout update form" by August 1 but have they have not done so with most of them expressing reservations.

The cricketers feel such a clause not only infringes on their privacy but also makes it difficult for them since they are not aware of their programmes two months in advance during the off-season. According to the WADA rule, any sportspersons missing three doping tests in 18 months faces a two-year sanction. In the form, the cricketers are expected to give details about their residence, training and regular activity locations in advance.

"The players have certain reservations about this clause. They have already expressed their concerns to the BCCI. We are seeing what can be done," a top BCCI official said.

The BCCI has convened an emergency meeting of its all-powerful Working Committee in Mumbai on Sunday to work out a solution to this vexed issue. "The BCCI, on its part, has also conveyed the reservations of the players on the whereabout clause to the ICC. The ICC has been told about the specific reservations the players have on certain clauses of the WADA rule and it may be difficult for the BCCI to stick to the August 1 deadline," the official said.

Indian Latest News

J-K Governor rejects Omar's resignation, asks him to continue

Srinagar:On a day of high drama, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tendered his resignation to Governor N N Vohra asking him to go into a senior PDP leader's allegation of his involvement in the 2006 sex scandal and accept it if he was guilty.

The Governor is reported to have observed that he would be able to consider Omar's resignation only after being fully informed about the details of the allegation against him and verifying its basis.

The Governor has asked Omar to continue to discharge his responsibilities as Chief Minister till a final decision is taken, a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said in a statement.

Vohra, who was on his way to the airport to leave for Delhi to attend to certain engagements, deferred his departure on receiving a message that the Chief Minister wanted to meet him urgently.

The spokesperson said Omar requested the Governor to inquire on a time-bound basis into the allegations made against his moral character by former Deputy Chief Minister Muzzafar Hussain Beigh, a PDP MLA, in the assembly on Tuesday and to "immediately accept his resignation in case the Governor is satisfied that there is any basis therein."

An emotional Omar drove to the Governor's residence at 3 PM shortly after announcing in the assembly that he will submit his resignation and stay out of office till his name is cleared, refusing to yield to pleas by National Conference and Congress MLAs not to step down.

"Those who lead must not only be clean but also look to be clean. At the end of the day one has is one's personal credibility and self respect. Both of these Mr.Beigh tried to snatch from me through the charges he levelled," Omar said in his resignation letter.


Gas row: Anil Ambani says petroleum ministry biased

MUMBAI: Reliance Natural Resources chairman Anil Ambani on Tuesday accused the petroleum ministry of being biased in the legal dispute with brother Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries over the price of natural gas from the Krishna-Godavari basin.

Addressing shareholders of the company, he also said the government would not lose a single rupee even if the gas from the fields off the Andhra Pradesh coast were to be supplied to his company at the originally contracted price of $2.34 per unit.

"The gas price of $2.34 per unit was not decided by two brothers on the dinner table," Anil Ambani said, adding the price was based on the prevailing global oil scenario and legitimately approved by the Reliance Industries board in 2005.

Last month, the Bombay High Court had asked Reliance Industries to supply 28 million units of gas to Reliance Natural Resources for 17 years at $2.34 per unit, after assigning 12 million units to the state-run power utility NTPC.

Reliance Industries challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court, which heard the case July 20 and fixed Sep 1 as the next date of hearing. It also asked all the parties to file their replies on the government position on the matter by then.

Anil Ambani said his Reliance Natural Resources was not claiming ownership of the gas assets as was being made out by the petroleum ministry but only staking the legitimate claim over the supplies, based on a corporate agreement.

According to him, if the government so desired, it had ample leeway to even take over the gas assets. He also sought to bring to light what he called were questionable actions by the oil ministry ever since changes were made at its top level in 2006.

"For the record, I want to emphasise that the government does not stand to lose even a single rupee even if Reliance Industries sells the gas at lower than approved valuation price to any party," he contended.

"If Reliance Industries gets a higher sale price from us based on the price of what the petroleum ministry wants to fix for the first few years, 99 percent of all revenues and profits will go to Reliance Industries," he said.

"Only a measly 1 percent will accrue to government of India."

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said he could not comment on the scathing accusations levelled against his ministry by Anil Ambani as the matter was subjudice.

Anil Ambani said Reliance Industries, founded by his late father Dhirubhai Ambani, was misusing its power as India's largest company and the near monopoly it enjoyed over natural gas production.

"It is unfortunate that Reliance Industries has tried every trick in the book, and apparently several outside the book, to back out of its solemn, legal and contractual agreement."

Metro mishap: Gammon India faces 2-year ban

New Delhi: Delhi Metro blamed "deficiency" in design and material for the Zamrudpur site mishap which killed six people and decided to issue a show-cause notice to contractor Gammon India asking it to explain why it should not be blacklisted for two years.

Making public the details of the three-member probe panel that went into the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Zamrudpur, DMRC Managing Director E Sreedharan said the board of directors of the organisation have "accepted the probe report in total".

The DMRC also placed two deputy engineers, who were responsible for design and material, under suspension.

"We have accepted the report in total. The unfortunate incident took place due to design deficiency and material deficiency. The cantilever design was not adequately taken care of and provision of steel at different points were not adequate," he told reporters in New Delhi.

"The committee found out that there was a deficiency in the design of the cantilever arm and that the concrete did not have adequate strength due to lack of (its) adequate curing," Sreedharan said.

"We have decided to issue a show-cause notice to Gammon India asking it to explain in 21 days why it should not be blacklisted on the Delhi Metro contractors list for two years. We will be sending the notice shortly," the DMRC chief said.

He said a "major penalty chargesheet" has been issued to Chief Engineer (Design) Rajan Kataria "which could even mean his termination from service."

Oz to crack down on migration scams targeting Indians

Melbourne: Australia promised to crack down on migration scams targeting Indian students in the country with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith saying the government will tighten regulation on migration agents.

Smith said the scams about ripping off foreign students would be looked into by immigration and education authorities and dealt with "no tolerance".

Speaking from Singapore, Smith told ABC channel "Of course it's very concerning on both fronts."

"On the migration front, when we were in Opposition we did express significant concerns about the regulation of migration agents, and as a consequence we've recently seen a migration regulatory authority come into existence to regulate that industry better," Smith said.

"But any of these abuses, of course, we won't tolerate and don't tolerate. And the cracking down, so far as the migration agents' regulatory arrangements are concerned, will assist in that process," he said.

On Monday night, ABC's 'Four Corners' programme reported that hundreds of private colleges in Australia were offering courses such as hairdressing and cooking, luring Indian students with false promises of permanent residency in the country.

The programme said migration agents told the reporter she could buy a fake English language certificate needed to gain residency for between USD 2,400-4,100.

The expose were the latest to hit Australia's USD 14.2 billion international student sector -- the nation's third largest export earner -- after a series of violent attacks on Indian students in cities like Melbourne and Sydney.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard condemned the attack on an Indian-born journalist who had exposed the scam while working undercover for the 'Four Corners' programme.

Indian Business News

Banks have scope to reduce lending rates: RBI

Mumbai: Reserve Bank Governor D Subbaro said there is scope for banks to lower lending rates further.

"Banks say that the demand for credit is picking up on the back of investment in projects...Banks have scope to reduce the lending rates," Subbarao told in his customary post-credit policy press conference, justifying the bank's decision to keep the key rates unchanged.

The RBI governor said bankers informed him that the demand for credit in certain segments like home and retail is picking up, which was a welcome sign.

Subbarao said he saw visible signs of economic recovery. However, he said, there are certain risk factors in the economy, especially in the farm sector, given the uncertainty over the monsoon.

He expressed concern that the performance of farm sector could have a spill over effect on the industrial sector as well.

Subbarao also felt that exports have not picked up, recording a slowdown for the last eight months. Though exports form only 15 per cent of the GDP, it could pose risks to the economic revival, he said.

Harsh Lodha moves Calcutta High Court

Kolkata: The late R S Lodha's son Harsh Vardhan Lodha questioned whether shareholders' right to elect a chairman could be curbed while moving an application in the Calcutta High Court challenging a Company Law Board order on Birla Corporation's AGM.

Appearing before Justice Aniruddha Bose challenging the CLB interim order that he could not be elected Chairman for the AGM, Lodha's solicitors Fox and Mandal also questioned whether the board could interfere with convening a company's AGM in accordance with the Companies Act.

Lodha, however, did not seek any interim order and Justice Bose directed the Lodhas and the Birlas, who are fighting several court cases over the assets of the M P Birla group, to argue their cases.

The court admitted appeals by both Lodha and Birla family-controlled Rameshwara Jute Mill against the CLB order and directed that it would hear Lodha's appeal first.

The Supreme Court had on Monday refused to stay the AGM of M P Birla group flagship Birla Corporation and asked Lodha to seek relief from the Calcutta High Court.

Birla Corporation Director Pracheta Majumdar, chairing the AGM, had adjourned the meeting till August 24.

Time Warner buys back Google’s 5% stake in AOL

New York: Media conglomerate Time Warner has purchased back Google’s five per cent stake in ailing internet firm AOL for USD 283 million, a price much lower than what the search engine major paid for buying the shareholding in 2006.

Three years ago, Google snapped up the five per cent stake in AOL for USD 1 billion.

“On July 8, 2009, Time Warner repurchased Google’s five per cent interest in us for USD 283 million, which included a payment in respect of Google’s pro rata share of cash distributions to Time Warner by AOL attributable to the period of Google’s investment in us,” AOL said in a regulatory filing yesterday.

Time Warner has bought back the stake as part of its efforts to spin off AOL into a separate entity from itself.

Following the buy back of the five per cent shareholding, AOL has become a 100 per cent subsidiary of Time Warner.

Going by the filing, the alliance with Google has been beneficial for AOL and has generated good revenues over a period of time. The revenues associated with the Google relationship stood at USD 677.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

During the same period, AOL’s total revenues touched USD 4.17 billion.

In May this year, Time Warner unveiled plans for complete legal and structural separation of AOL from the group. Once the spin off is complete, AOL would be an independent, publicly-traded company.

Indian Sports News| Sports News

Bowlers these days are lazy, says Akram

Tuesday , Jul 28, 2009: Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram, in Delhi on a two-week trip as a bowling variation and strategy coach at a new pace academy, admits that he lacks the patience to work full-time. At the same time, he has a lot of patience while speaking on a subject that is close to his heart. In an interview with The Indian Express on Monday, Akram spoke at length about the nuances of pace bowling, how mastering swing is harder than reverse swing, and on how bowlers, of late, have become lazy. Excerpts:

There’s a raging debate on Twenty20 eventually pushing out ODIs, and Test cricket losing spectator appeal. Do you endorse these views?

• I think ODIs will be phased out. The power plays have somewhat stretched the interest levels but even then, the middle overs are a bit boring from the spectator’s aspect. Having quit the game, and watching from outside, I realise how boring it can be to watch a one-day match. I get bored even commentating during a one-dayer. However, I can’t understand the fuss behind protecting Test cricket. You don’t need anyone to save Test cricket. The format is still revered by cricketers, and if you provide good tracks, people will watch it. I watched the Ashes, one match went so close and other was such a fascinating win. Contests like these will take care of Test cricket.

Flintoff reveals fitness regime to keep his Ashes dream alive

London: Andrew Flintoff has revealed the intensive fitness regime that he hopes will allow him to lead England to Ashes victory over Australia.

Flintoff has been struggling with a persistent knee problem which has already forced him to announce his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes series.

It had been reported that the Lancashire star may not even be able to finish the series but, with England leading 1-0 with three Tests remaining, Flintoff has no intention of quitting now.

In an attempt to be ready to take part when the third Test starts at Edgbaston tomorrow, he has been sleeping with a special compression machine on his troublesome joint.

"After the Test match at Lord's last week my knee was a bit sore but I've been icing it and getting treatment from Lancashire physio Dave Roberts," he told talkSPORT.

"I've been in the gym and have to prove my fitness at training on Tuesday. After every session I've been icing it and now I have this machine that I put on the knee every night.

"It gets in the way a little bit. It wraps around my knee and it compresses it, half an hour on, half an hour off, throughout the night. Last week I bowled in some discomfort. But I managed to bowl my overs and get through. I managed to bowl at a decent pace so I'll hopefully prove that I'm fine and hopefully the weather will keep away on Thursday at Edgbaston."

Latest News India

Is India doling out contracts to China?

NEW DELHI: Are Indian manufacturers being overlooked and Chinese made equipments being preferred for power projects in India?

If construction major Larsen & Toubro's chairman and managing director's concerns are anything to go by, then Indian companies are being shortchanged by government’s policies that inadvertently tilt the scales in favour of Chinese companies.

At a time when India-China rivalry has left relations at the lowest ebb, come complaints from industry heads of 'buy China' bias, that gives Chinese companies inordinate advantage over their Indian counterparts.

A letter written to the Finance Minister last month ahead of the Union Budget, L&T CMD A M Naik expressed concerns over import of Chinese power equipment to India that totalled nearly 8.3 billion dollars, while Chinese taxation model struck down any hopes of Indian exports to China.

The letter is in the possession of Times Now.

The letter points out that India is following the 'buy Chinese' policy in which international tenders are not floated to give China Advantage. It also says that Indian power companies changed specifications to suit Chinese manufacturers and that the Indian manufacturers are being overlooked and Chinese exporters incentivised.

The letter also points that exports from China is to the tune of $8.3 bn while Indian exports to China is negligible.

All 3 accused in 2003 Mumbai twin blasts case held guilty

MUMBAI: Six years after twin blasts at the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in south Mumbai killed 52 people and left 184 others injured, a special Pota court on Monday held all 3 accused guilty. ( Watch )

According to PTI, Special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) judge M R Puranik will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence on August 4. The prosecution said it will seek stringent punishment.

The accused  Ashrat Ansari (32), his aide Hanif Sayed Anees (46) and his wife Fehmida Sayed (43)  were held guilty on charges of planting powerful bombs in two taxis which exploded at the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar on August 25, 2003. The conspiracy for the attack was hatched in Dubai, according to the police.

The trio belonging to the banned Pakistan terror outfit LeT had on July 28, 2003 planted a bomb in a municipal bus in suburban Ghatkopar which killed two persons, police said.

They were convicted under various Sections of IPC, POTA, Explosives Substances Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. In a novel modus operandi, LeT had used a family for the first time to carry out bomb blasts with the motive being to seek vengeance for the attacks against the minority community during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002.

Stating that the accused face life or death sentence as they were found guilty under sections of IPC, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam asserted that the prosecution would seek a stringent punishment, possibly death penalty.

This is for the first time a couple was found guilty of terrorist acts under POTA, Nikam said outside the court.

The convicts listened carefully to the judge while the verdict was being pronounced in the six-year-long trial and remained silent.

After the verdict, accused Hanif said, "the verdict does not mean anything to us as we have already been held guilty by the media and public."

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the conspiracy to carry out the blasts was hatched in Dubai after the Godhra carnage.

"Hanif, Ashrat and Nasir, who was killed in a police encounter, and some Pakistani nationals owing allegiance to LeT hatched the conspiracy to attack India," Nikam said.

The accused had confessed earlier that the motive behind the blasts was to safeguard Muslims and seek revenge for the atrocities meted against them.

Ashrat confessed, "We learnt that some Hindu political leaders had meted several atrocities against Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 and we wanted to take revenge. Our aim was to target areas which has a majority population of Gujaratis".

Nasir, also a member of LeT, had provided Ashrat and Hanif with explosives. Ashrat and Hanif had also undergone training in firearms and assembling of explosives in Dubai.

On August 25, 2003, Ashrat, Hanif, his wife Fehmida and their two daughters, hired a taxi from their residence in Andheri to Gateway of India with a bag containing RDX which exploded after they left saying they would return after lunch.

They then took another taxi to Zaveri Bazaar and planted a bomb outside a jewellery shop.

Two other accused, Mohammed Ansari Ladoowala and Mohammed Hasan Batterywala, were discharged by POTA court in December 2008 after Supreme Court upheld a POTA review committee report that there was no case against the duo.

The 16-year-old daughter of Hanif and Fehmida was also arrested for her alleged involvement in aiding her parents but was subsequently discharged. The other daughter was just six months old at the time of incident.

Another accused had turned approver and the court granted him pardon after he exposed LeT link in the blasts and helped the prosecution.

Mehbooba Mufti wrenches J&K Speaker's mike

SRINAGAR: Pandemonium broke out in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday over the Shopian case with opposition PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti wrenching a mike out of the Speaker's podium and throwing it away after which she and her party MLAs were removed from the House.

Trouble started shortly after the House assembled on Monday morning on the opening day of the budget session with National Conference (NC) member Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan trying to draw the attention of the Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone to an "important issue" which was objected to by the PDP members.

Mufti led her party members into the well of the House where she snatched the mike and was about to wrench another even as other PDP members shouted slogans and said that the Shopian rape and murder case involving two women was more important than anything else.

The PDP members raised slogans like "Shopian kay katiloon ko pesh karo" (bring to book the culprits in the Shopian case).

In the midst of the unruly situation, Lone directed the watch and ward staff to remove Mufti and her MLAs from the House. The watch and ward staff assisted by security personnel had to jostle with the members while taking them out.

Mufti later accused the Speaker of using "unparliamentary" language and acting more like a "ruling NC worker" in the House.

Mufti also claimed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was sitting there watching the Speaker using "derogatory language" against the leader of the largest opposition without registering any protest.

"He (the Speaker) should have had more patience. I had no other way. I never threw the mike at him, I just trashed the mike. I wanted to tell him that if you are ready to use force, we can also use force. This is not the way to behave with a lady," she said.

Before directing the eviction of the PDP members, the Speaker, while pointing towards Mufti, said, "I name you, please take your seat."

While the rest of the PDP members were escorted out, Mufti resisted for few minutes to which Lone said, "Take this lady out."

Indian journalist attacked in Australia

MELBOURNE: A young Indian journalist was threatened and attacked after she went underground to reveal migration and education scams in Australia that try to defraud international students, including those from India.

The woman, working as a reporter with ABC TV, was threatened during the making of the programme 'Four Corners' and was attacked over the weekend.

In an article on its website, ABC said the reporter went to two different migration agents posing as a customer wanting to pass an English Language Test without having the skills and told them that she was willing to buy a fake work certificate.

She was able to do both if she paid between $3,000 and $5,000.

The attack assumes significance in the wake of a series of racially-motivated attacks on Indian students in Australian cities.

The report said it was not clear whether the migration agents or the colleges identified in the 'Four Corners' programme were behind either the threats or the attack.

"The programme, to be aired tonight (local time), will reveal several cases where international students, especially those from India, have lost thousands of dollars," the article said.

ABC quoted Pushpinder Kaur, mother of Prabmeet Singh who spent over $40,000 on a flying course, as saying that that the family was now broke and her son still has no pilot's licence.

"It is a fraud. We were shown so many rosy pictures about the school and it is not what it is really, it was just a scam. I think the government should be more alert in these type of matters because it is the career of the children which is at stake," she said.

Many other Indian students have told the TV channel that the aviation college Aerospace Aviation has failed to deliver its promised 200 hours of flying time over 52 weeks.

However, Aerospace Aviation's spokeswoman Sue Davis defended the training and questioned the level of commitment and dedication among the particular students.

Karl Konrad, an education and migration agent based in Sydney, said he has been aware of a black market in dodgy documents for years.

"I had many students come to my offices and say, 'oh I can buy letters for USD 3,000 at particular restaurants'," he said.

"They didn't name the restaurants, but I was getting many of these type of stories. [So] we sent that information to the Immigration department and they in turn thanked us for the information and said they would pass it on to Trades Recognition Australia. Nothing ever became of that," he said.

Indian Business News

Signs of inflation firming up: RBI

Mumbai:The Reserve Bank of India said on Monday there were indications of inflation firming up by the end of the year due to increases in commodity prices, easy monetary policy and expansionary fiscal policy.

In its quarterly review of the economy, the central bank said food inflation remained high while patchy rains could potentially aggravate it further, and consumer price indices continued to be at aggravated levels.

"The inflationary pressures may remain moderate if the protracted global recession leads to dampened commodity prices, agricultural growth remains unaffected despite delayed progress of monsoon and the accommodative monetary policy stance returns to normal levels," the central bank said in its report.

In the June quarter review, published a day ahead of the monetary policy review, the central bank said fiscal consolidation was needed to return the economy to a high growth path.

RBI sees growth at 6.5%; hints at keeping rates unchanged

Mumbai: With ample liquidity in the system, India is set to grow at a rate of 6.5%, the RBI said on Monday. It also indicated that the key rates may remain unchanged in its monetary policy review.

The RBI on Monday said it has ensured ample liquidity in the system through a series of rate cuts in the last 10 months, hinting that it may keep policy rates unchanged in its quarterly credit policy review on Tuesday.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the revision was on account of positive outlook emanating from several sources, including the performance of core infrastructure industries, overall manufacturing output and roboust showing by the services sector.

"Since mid-September 2008, the policy repo (overnight lending) rate has been reduced by 425 basis points, the reverse repo (borrowing) has been brought down by 275 basis points" resulting in liquidity injection of over Rs 5,61,700 crore, RBI said in its macro-economic report released a day ahead of its first quarterly credit policy review.

"These measures taken by the Reserve Bank have ensured availability of ample liquidity in the banking system... evident in the large and regular absorption of the surplus from the system through liquidity absorption facility."

It said its focus has been on providing ample rupee liquidity, ensuring comfortable US dollar liquidity and keeping the market environment conducive for credit flow to productive sectors.

RBI noted that core infrastructure sector growth accelerated to 4.8 percent in the first quarter against 3.5 percent a year ago, led by growth in electricity, cement and coal, while industrial output rebounded sharply.

Services sector too showed positive signs, with a surge in lead indicators such as railway freight and new mobile connections, besides improvement in tourist arrivals.

However, commercial vehicle production and port cargo movement decelerated in the first two months of this fiscal.

Overall, the corporate performance subdued and there was a substantial deceleration in sales growth in the second half of 2008-09. "Corporate profitability also exhibited negative growth in the last three successive quarters of the year."

However, the RBI also said a complete economic turnaround may still be distant and the positive signs seen were just early indicators given the delayed monsoons and persistence of the global economic recession.

"Lagged impact of the negative growth in manufacturing in the last quarter of 2008-09 on services demand, negative growth in capital goods, decline in the production of commercial vehicles, and an accelerated fall in import growth suggesting dampened demand conditions," the RBI report added.

On government pegging fiscal deficit at 6.8 percent in FY'10 to boost demand and support a faster recovery, RBI said: "Notwithstanding the necessity of an expansionary fiscal response to the growth slowdown, there is a need to address the challenges for fiscal consolidation with a view to returning to the high growth path at the earliest."

Indian Cricket News| Indian Sports News

Barring miracles, Akhtar's career is over: Akram

Barring a miracle, enigmatic speedster Shoaib Akhtar's international career is virtually over, reckons former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram. Reacting to Akhtar's omission from Pakistan's list of probables for this year's Champions Trophy, Akram said unless something dramatic happened, Shoaib stood no chance of a comeback to the national team. "I don't think he has got a chance, unless and until some miracles happen," Akram told reporters today after the left-arm pacer was named coach of the Gatorade Centre for Pace Excellence.

"Even though it depends on the captain and selectors, I think Shoaib has fallen out with the selectors and the cricket board itself. This cricket board still supported him and he went to Abu Dhabi and played two of the five games (against Australia) before getting injured again. We all saw that," he said.

Akram said the emergence of youngsters like Mohammad Aamer has made things difficult for Akhtar and he could not see the speedster, notorious for his temperament and fragility, in the current scheme of things in Pakistan cricket. "I think Pakistan's bowling unit is doing well and they have to look ahead and think about the future. They have to back the youngsters who will do the job for them, even if you look at the 2011 World Cup. Also in this year's Champions Trophy and the next Twenty20 World Cup, the team would have to rely on the youngsters. "I don't know where you can place Shoaib Akhtar in the current picture of Pakistan cricket," Akram said.

Hero Honda bags title sponsorship for 2010 Hockey World Cup

New Delhi: World's largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero Honda Motors Ltd was on Monday named the title sponsor for the 2010 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup to be held here in March. The announcement was made at a glittering ceremony here in the presence of International Hockey Federation President Leandro Negre, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi, Hockey India President AK Mattoo and the 1975 World Cup winning members of the Indian team. Negre said the mega-event would provide eight-time Olympic champions India the perfect platform to revive their past glory. "The World Cup is the most important event in the game of hockey and we want to showcase before the entire world that the FIH can hold a truly mesmerising and beautiful event," Negre said. "For global development of hockey, it is important that India should come up and play to it's potential. The FIH hopes that hosting the 2010 World Cup will give a tremendous boost to Indian hockey," he said. "I have been constantly travelling throughout the world and I must say many teams are eagerly waiting to be a part of the World Cup. Some of the teams have already qualified but qualifying tournaments are going on," he added.

Today's Latest News in Detail

India has nothing to do with Balochistan: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Aiming to stem the controversy over the inclusion of Balochistan in the India-Pakistan joint statement, home minister P Chidambaram has asserted that New Delhi has "nothing to do with Pakistan's internal affairs".

"We have nothing to do with Pakistan's internal problems, why should we get involved?" Chidamabaram said in a TV interview.

He was replying to a question on the contentious move by India to allow a mention of "threats to Balochistan" in the joint statement which was issued after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt July 16.

Although Pakistan has been accusing India of fomenting trouble in its resource-rich southwest province for decades, this is the first time Balochistan has found mention in a joint statement between the two countries.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some experts have slammed the government for "conceding" to Pakistan on the Balochistan issue and have contended that its mention in the joint statement is tantamount to giving credibility to Pakistan's allegations.

Manmohan Singh has, however, defended the move saying the joint statement was merely taking cognizance of what Pakistan said at the Egypt talks and stressed that India was ready to discuss the issue as it has nothing to hide.

At a meeting with senior party leaders here Friday evening, Congress president Sonia Gandhi backed the prime minister on the issue.

A recent Pakistani media report claimed that Islamabad had given to New Delhi a "dossier" about India's involvement in Balochistan during talks at Sharm-el-Sheikh. Official sources here have vehemently denied the sharing of any such dossier.

"Our hands are clean. We have nothing to hide," the sources said.

If Pakistan wants to bring up its "internal issue" in bilateral talks and internationalise Balochistan, India does not have any issue with it, the sources added.

Govt asks FM, petroleum ministry to lend support to AI

NEW DELHI: Extending a helping hand to Air India, the government on Saturday asked the finance ministry to critically examine the "extent of assistance" to be given to the national carrier and the petroleum ministry to extend the credit limit initially for three months.

This was decided at a meeting of the high-level committee, headed by Cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar, set up to monitor Air India's cost cutting measures. The Committee met for the first time on Saturday and vetted the cash-strapped carrier's plans to cut costs and generate revenue.

Official sources said Air India's parent company, National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) has been asked to appoint a Cost Auditor to monitor costs.

The auditor would ensure that cost reduction
measures and operational efficiencies are implemented on a day-to-day basis, sources said.

The national carrier is estimated to suffer a loss of Rs 7,200 crore in the last financial year.

At the meeting, it was decided that the finance ministry would be asked to "critically examine the extent of assistance" that could be given to NACIL to come out of the major financial crisis it is facing, sources said.

The petroleum ministry would also be asked to extend the credit limit to Air India, initially for three months, they said, adding that the airline made a presentation before the high-level committee on various cost reduction and revenue generation measures it plans to take up.

After the meeting while speaking to reporters here, Air India CMD said, the "government is with us" and would give full backing to the airline on its growth and cost-saving plans.

The focus of these plans were on revenue generation, he said, adding that the airline would keep the committee updated on these plans at its meetings to be held every month from now onwards.

Air India, which has been losing an estimated Rs 250 crore a month, has chalked out a turnaround plan aimed at generating Rs 3,000 crore through internal accruals over the next six months. The plan also includes steps to mobilise additional revenue of Rs 1,800 crore through cost-cutting and savings.

The national carrier is understood to be seeking a soft loan of Rs 3,000 crore from the government, apart from equity infusion. The airline has ordered 111 aircraft at a cost of over Rs 50,000 crore but has an equity base of only Rs 145 crore.

BCCI counters Ganguly’s allegation of discrimination

Mumbai: Of late, BCCI has been facing accusations of bias, when it comes to selection of the national cricket team.

A few days after Vinod Kambli blamed the Indian board in a reality show for discriminating against him over his skin colour (though he later denied it), former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly too accused the board of adopting double standards over team selection.

However, on Saturday, BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla refuted all such charges, saying that the board doesn’t interfere at all when it comes to the selection matters.

“BCCI is not biased,” he said.

“Selection depends on selection committee (entirely).”

He said that the selection is entirely the domain of the selectors and thee board has nothing to do with it.

“We don’t interfere in selection. It is the domain of the selectors.”

Ganguly had sarcastically hinted at being a victim of BCCI’s discrimination in an interview to a Bengali channel.

The stylish southpaw had replied in affirmative when asked if he thought he could have served the Indian team well had he continued to play at the top level like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

“Yes, I had the ability. Had I played, I would have performed. But the rules are not the same for everyone,” said the southpaw.

Ganguly retired from international cricket after the home series against Australia in October last year.

Family of Kargil martyrs salute spirit of sacrifice

Tololing (Kargil): Ten years after Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguriise sacrificed his life when he led a platoon to re-capture Tololing from Pakistani troops during the Kargil war, his family has come all the way from Nagaland to salute the place of their son's martyrdom.

"We have to come to see and salute the place of the martyrdom of our son. It was a dream for us to visit the holy place and pray for our son", the late captain's father Neiselie Kenguriise told a visiting correspondent in Tololing on Saturday.

As they took a glimpse of Tololing ridgeline captured by their son and his platoon, tears welled in the eyes of Neiselie, his wife Dinuo and daughter.

Captain Neikezhakuo led his platoon to Tololing ridgeline overlooking an important army formation, ejected Pakistani regulars and re-captured the ridgeline in a five-day-long battle. But he lost his life in mortar shelling on June 18, 1999.

Captain Neikezhakuo, who hailed from Kohima in Nagaland, was awarded Mahavir Chakra (MVC).

"My son did his duty to the nation with utmost dedication. We have come here to pay homage to him along with other martyrs, who defeated the enemy in one of the most difficult wars", the captain's parents said.

Like Captain Neikezhakuo, another soldier Captain Manoj Pandey achieved martyrdom by beating back Pakistani troops and re-capturing Khalobar ridgeline, one of the most dominant positions captured by the Pakistani troops in Kargil sector. He died on July 3, 1999 in this sector.

"He is my hero as well as the nation's hero. He braved enemy fire and re-captured Khalobar ridgeline and pushed back Pakistani troops. He was given Param Vir Chakra (PVC) posthumously," his brother Manmohan Pandey, who had come to visit the memorial from Lucknow, said.

Reports of rift between Govt, Cong a 'media creation': PM

New Delhi: Under attack over the Indo-Pak joint statement, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that the government has all the "relevant answers" to the questions raised over it and these will be spelt out by him in Parliament on July 29.

He also dismissed as "media creation" the reported difference of opinion between the government and Congress party on the issue.

"I have made a statement in Parliament and Parliament is again going to discuss the issue. I will clarify," Singh told reporters in New Delhi when asked about the controversy over the Joint Statement which had made mention of Balochistan and de-linked terrorism and holding of composite dialogue with Pakistan.

Singh refused to speak on the matter further, saying "pending a debate in Parliament, it is inappropriate to answer any specific questions on the issue."

He, however, expressed confidence that "we have all the relevant answers."

The Indo-Pak Joint Statement, issued after Singh's meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Sharm-el Sheikh on July 16, has come in for sharp attack over mention of Balochistan and India agreeing to de-link dialogue from Pakistan's action against terrorism.

Responding to demands from the opposition, a discussion will be held on the issue in Parliament on July 29 during which the Prime Minister will intervene.

Asked about reported difference of opinion between the government and the Congress party on the issue, Singh dismissed it as a "media creation".

Singh was replying to queries by media persons at Rashtrapati Bhavan after presentation of Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award was received by Bill Gates from President Pratibha Patil.

4 suspected MNS activists held for 'gangrape' of maid

MUMBAI: Four activists said to belong to Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were arrested in Mumbai on Saturday on charges of gang raping a minor girl working as a maid servant, police said.

The four -- Ganesh Gatkar, Ganesh Kale, Narendra Salunkhe and Umesh Borade -- were produced before a magistrate in Andheri court on Saturday afternoon and remanded to police custody till July 28, according to senior police inspector of MIDC police station Pradeep Suryawanshi.

He said that the incident occurred last Sunday around 2 pm, when the accused kidnapped the girl while she was going home.

They took her to a municipal garden in the neighbourhood and allegedly raped her in the cabin of the security guards there.

The injured victim was allowed to go but not before she was threatened with dire consequences if she opened her mouth.

Suryawanshi said that the victim finally took courage on Friday and revealed the incident to her mother, who also works as a maid in the same locality. She brought her daughter to the police station and a complaint was lodged following which the accused were rounded up.

The incident comes barely one month after Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja was arrested for allegedly raping his domestic help in Andheri West.

Reacting to the incident, MNS vice-president V Saraswat claimed that this was a conspiracy to defame the party and it could be a case of mistaken identity of two persons bearing similar names.

"However, we are inquiring if they were indeed our party workers. If found to be true, we shall take strict action against them, there is no place for such persons in the MNS," he said.

MIDC, or Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, is a predominantly industrial locality in north-west Mumbai's Andheri suburb.

Several residential complexes have mushroomed there, especially after the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road -- a critical link between the eastern and western suburbs -- opened a couple of years ago.

A group of MNS workers gathered outside the police station and some blurred out the names of the suspects from a party hoarding nearby.

However, the workers did not create any obstacles in police work, Suryawanshi said.

Indian Business News

Help bring economy back on track: FM to tax payers

Panaji: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Indian economy can bounce back to 9 per cent and appealed to the tax payers to cooperate with the government in achieving the target.

Mukherjee, who is presently in Goa on an official trip, said tax collection has come down due to the global financial crunch.

"It will be possible for us to bounce back to the glorious recent past when our GDP ratio was 9 per cent," the Finance Minister said.

Mukherjee appealed to the tax payers to cooperate with the Government in achieving the target, saying "tax compliance is an important duty of the society".

The Union Minister said the government is working on a tax code to simplify the tax collection system.

Microsoft to unbundle Explorer from Windows: EU

Brussels: Microsoft has agreed to open up Windows to different Internet browsers in order to fend off European Union litigation, the European Commission announced.

"Microsoft has proposed a consumer ballot screen as a solution to the pending antitrust case about the tying of Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser with Windows," said a statement.

It said computer users would be able to "easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer" from the ballot screen.

The commission, Europe's top competition watchdog, opened a new front in its epic anti-trust battle with Microsoft in January.

It hit the company with fresh charges of unfairly squashing competition by bundling its Internet Explorer web browser into its ubiquitous Windows personal computer operating system.

Under the plan, rival browsers including Firefox (Mozilla), Google's Chrome or Opera by Norway's Opera Software will now be placed before consumers at the point when they set up a new computer's operating preferences.

Continental Airlines to slash 1,700 more jobs

Houston: US-based Continental Airlines is slashing 1,700 jobs following a drop in passenger numbers during the summer season amid a quarterly loss of USD 214 million reported between April and June.

"We must take aggressive steps to increase revenue and reduce costs," said Continental Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Larry Kellner, who is stepping down on January 1 and will be succeeded by President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Smisek.

The job reductions and fee changes will produce USD 100 million in annual benefits when fully implemented next year, the fourth-largest US air-carrier said on Thursday.

The job cuts, which represent 3.9 percent of Continental's workforce, reflect the pressure on the industry from the collapse of business travel in the recession and fare sales to fill planes. The reductions are on top of 1,200 eliminated positions the carrier has announced since May. Besides, the carrier will add USD 5 to checked-bag fees for customers who do not prepay online and increase by USD 5 the cost to make a telephone reservation. Continental's quarterly loss was its seventh in a row. The deficit of USD 1.72 a share widened from a loss of USD 5 million, or 5 cents, a year earlier. Sales fell 23 percent to USD 3.13 billion.

The Houston-based carrier had previously cut 500 jobs for reservation agents when it shut Florida call center last week.

It had given leave of absence to 700 flight attendants. The carrier cut 3,000 jobs in 2008 as fuel prices rose to record highs.

Indian Sports News| Sports News

'Bowling, just like batting, is all about partnerships'

It’s a rare off season for Indian cricket. Have you been following the Ashes and the Sri Lanka-Pakistan series on TV?

I haven’t been following the Tests very closely. Since I hardly get to spend any time with my family, I’m trying to make up for that. I stay at home most of the time and there are a number of things to take care of. A long break doesn’t come along too often, so it feels nice to relax after playing almost non-stop cricket for over a year.

Some of the off-spinners have been among the wickets in the Ashes so far — Graeme Swann and Nathan Hauritz.

They’re both good bowlers. Swann did well against us. Hauritz is relatively inexperienced at the top level, but he will develop as he plays more.

How does a spinner evolve?

We mature with time. There are many spinners in India who have the talent but bowlers need to innovate. Whether you play one game or a hundred, you need to have something unique in your bowling. It’s a constant learning process. Even today when I meet Anil (Kumble) bhai and (Muttiah) Muralitharan, we talk about how to improve. Nowadays batsmen play different types of strokes, and it makes every game a new challenge.

Ajantha Mendis got dropped for the third Test against Pakistan — exactly a year after he made that sensational debut against India.

When I saw him bowling for the first time, I thought he was unplayable. He had so many ways to get a batsman out. His ball used to land on pitch and cut — I’d never come across such a delivery. You need strength in your fingers to bowl such type of deliveries. Also, he was very consistent in that series. Now, if you notice, that same delivery goes way outside, making it easier for batsmen to pick. That ball was his main weapon, but now it’s easy to read. After that series, we were never scared of facing him.


I can't tolerate Shah Rukh insulting Gavaskar: Miandad

New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has lashed out at Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan for his "verbal volleys" at Sunil Gavaskar on multiple captain theory prior to the start of IPL-II.

Shah Rukh had backed his Kolkata Knight Riders' coach John Buchanan's multiple captain idea and had criticised Gavaskar for his remarks against the Australian's coaching method.

And Miandad, paying tribute to Gavaskar on the occasion of his 60th birthday, wondered if the legendary batsman was yet to win the respect of his "rich and famous" compatriots despite his contributions to the country.

"It happened before the Indian Premier League-2 got under way in South Africa, but it still rankles me. I simply cannot tolerate the insult Shah Rukh Khan heaped on our icon," Miandad wrote in a book compiled by veteran journalist Debashish Dutta.

"Even my fellow cricketers in Pakistan were shocked... by Shah Rukh's verbal volleys. It is sad that despite achieving so much for his country Sunil Gavaskar is yet to earn the respect of rich and famous," he said.

"I know that these days money talks but, believe me, no amount of money can produce another Gavaskar. By insulting Sunny, Shah Rukh has indirectly insulted us, too," he added.

Miandad, who has had three stints as coach of Pakistan team, also advised Shah Rukh to learn some sportsman spirit from Gavaskar.

"Sunny is a gentleman and it is his greatness that he ignored Shah Rukh's comments. It only showed how spirited a man Sunny is. Shah Rukh should learn from Sunil," he said. Another Pakistan great Wasim Akram rued that despite his 400 wickets in both Tests and ODIs, he could not find success against Gavaskar.

Latest News India

Pakistan should fight all terrorists with 'same force': India


23 July 2009, 06:23pm IST: On Board Special Aircraft: India on Thursday asked Pakistan to "show the same force" in fighting anti-India terrorists on its soil as it has done in combating the Taliban and other anti-West militants.

"Pakistan has taken certain steps like fighting the Taliban in the Swat valley," external affairs minister SM Krishna told journalists when asked if Islamabad was showing commitment in fighting terrorists who target India.

"We expect Pakistan should go after the terrorists, who are targeting India, with the same force," he added.

He was interacting with journalists while returning from the Thai island resort of Phuket, where he participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting.

Asked about Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief Hafeez Saeed, suspected to be a mastermind of the Nov 26 Mumbai terrorist attacks, Krishna said Pakistani authorities had made an appeal in court against his recent release. "The law should take its course," he said.

"Pakistan should take action against any head of a terrorist organisation working against India," he added.


Kasab's 'confession' accepted on record, 26/11 trial to continue

MUMBAI: On a day of drama, Mohd. Ajmal Amir Kasab's lawyer decided to withdraw from the 26/11 terror attack case but later retracted even as the special court on Thursday ordered that the trial of the Pakistani gunman will continue.

Kasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi told the court that he would like to pull out of the case as his client has lost confidence in him but later said he will continue to represent him.

Special Judge M L Tahilyani, hearing the case in the high security Arthur Road jail in central Mumbai, said the trial will continue as Kasab has confessed to the basic offence but not pleaded guilty to 86 charges slapped on him.

The judge told 22-year-old Kasab, "Aap ke khilaaf 86 charges frame kiye the. Apne sab nahin kabool kiye hain, lekin gunaah kabool kiya hai. Isiliye court ne decision liya hai ki yeh case chalega. (There were 86 charges framed against you. You have not pleaded guilty to all of them. You have confessed only to the basic offence. That is why the court has taken the decision to continue with the trial)."

To this, Kasab just said "theek hai "(okay). Taking everyone by surprise, Kasab had on Monday pleaded guilty to his involvement in the attacks at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and other locations. The terror strikes by Kasab and nine others in Mumbai had left 183 dead.

In his order, the judge said the court has come to a conclusion that Kasab's statement should be taken on record and considered at an appropriate stage as evidence.

The court instructed the prosecution to continue with the trial and produce witnesses.

"The prosecution's stance is totally vindicated by the order of the court," special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told reporters outside the court.

"The court has accepted our contention that Kasab has not pleaded guilty for the entire incident and did not confess to all the charges. The court has said that his admission of guilt can be taken on record and will be considered at a later stage," Nikam said.

The prosecution had argued on Wednesday that Kasab's confession be taken on record but the trial should be allowed to continue since the gunman had not admitted to his guilt in all the offences in which he was involved.

However, the defence lawyer had argued that Kasab should be sentenced if his plea was accepted. Else, the court should reject it and not take the statement on record at all.

As the hearing commenced, Kazmi said, "Sir, I feel I should withdraw at this stage. He (Kasab) does not take me into confidence and I will recuse myself."

The judge then explained to Kasab in Hindi that his lawyer has gained an impression on his having no confidence in Kazmi and hence wants to withdraw.

"Maine aise kuch nahin kaha hai (I have not said anything like that)," Kasab said.

The court then told Kasab to speak with his lawyer and clear any misunderstandings between them. "It appears he has certain misunderstandings. Your duty is to clear it and I do not think it is a big issue," the court said.

India denies receiving ‘counter terror dossier’ from Pak

New Delhi: India denied having received any dossier from Pakistan about its alleged involvement in terrorist acts there, including one on the Sri Lankan team, a day after media reports in Islamabad claimed that a dossier was given to New Delhi on the issue.

"We have not received any such dossier," sources in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in New Delhi.

The Dawn, a leading Pakistani English daily, had claimed on Wednesday that Islamabad has handed over to New Delhi a dossier containing "comprehensive evidence" of Indian involvement in several terrorist acts on its soil, including the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March.

The dossier with proof of "India's involvement in subversive activities in Pakistan" was handed over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during their recent meeting at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the newspaper claimed quoting sources as saying.

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor described the charges of India's involvement in terrorist acts as "preposterous" and said "it is not wise for us to react to media reports.

"But we don't believe that deflecting responsibilities for things that are happening in the disfunctioning of the state to their neighbours who have conducted themselves very differently is a very healthy practice."

Denying that India has received any dossier from Pakistan, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said, "No such dossier was given in Egypt...It is entirely wrong."

Asked if the government sees these charges as a game, she said it was not good on Pakistan's part to do anything like this if they want to take the relationship with India forward.

I was treated like a terrorist in jail: Rita Joshi

Lucknow:Accusing the Mayawati government of foisting false cases on her, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said on Thursday that she was treated like a terrorist in the jail.

"I was implicated in false cases and was treated like a terrorist in the jail. Torching of my house (in the state capital) was also state-sponsored," she told reporters in Lucknow.

Joshi said she was not settle anything less than a CBI probe into the arson incident at her house on July 15, adding without such an inquiry, "real culprits cannot be nailed".

The state Congress chief had moved a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking a CBI inquiry into the attack on her house. It will come up for hearing tomorrow.

The Congress would launch statwide protests, including fill the jail stir, from August one if the demand for a CBI probe was not met by then, the UPCC chief said.

Nilekani takes over as head of UIAI

NEW DELHI: Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani on Thursday took over as head of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) which has been tasked to create a national database of identity details of citizens.

Nilekani said the first set of database will be ready in 12 to 18 months time as announced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in his budget speech.

"We will be issuing the first set of identification numbers in 12 to 18 months," he told reporters here.

Nilekani said Ram Sevak Sharma, a 1978 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer, will take over as Secretary and CEO of the organisation.

Nilekani, who was appointed as head of UIAI on July 13, said it will take few weeks for them to "get the team together"

"We will use biometrics....but we still have not decided what that set will be," he said.

"It will take us few weeks to stabilise and figure out the team size. It will take us few weeks to get our thoughts together," he added.

Indian Business News

Talks on with MTN on deal: Bharti

New Delhi: Bharti Airtel Ltd said it is still in talks with South Africa's MTN over a deal which could see a merger of the two telecom giants with a combined revenue of 20 billion dollar.

The two companies would be in exclusive talks till July 31.

"Talks are going on between Bharti Enterprises, the parent of Bharti Airtel, and South Africa's MTN Group Ltd. to form a global business combination," Akhil Gupta, deputy group CEO and MD, Bharti Enterprises, said.

Gupta didn't elaborate any further.

Bharti Airtel and MTN had in May revived talks over a complex USD 23 billion combine that would create one of the 10 largest companies in the mobile telecom sector. Their merger talks last year had fallen apart as they could not reach an agreement on a management structure.

If successful, the combined wireless group will have more than 200 million subscribers and a combined revenue of USD 20 billion.

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The Indian telecom major is exploring a potential transaction whereby it would acquire 49 per cent in MTN, and in turn, MTN and its shareholders would acquire approximately 36 per cent economic interest in Bharti.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has exempted MTN from making an open offer to Bharti shareholders.

The market regulator, however, said the open offer would be triggerred only once the global depository reciepts (GDRs) are converted into local shares with voting rights.

Sensex closes above 15k, adds 388 pts

Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex spurted nearly 388 points on Thursday on aggressive buying by funds, triggered by better-than-expected corporate earnings and firming Asian markets.

Market players covered pending positions amid reports of good quarterly earnings by blue-chip stocks and this further supported the rally.

The Sensex, which had lost 220 points in the previous day's trading, rebounded to end with a gain of 387.92 points at 15,231.04 as 28 stocks among the 30 in Sensex gained and two settled with losses.

The key index moved between 15,264.84 and 14,997.75.

The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose 124.85 points to 4,523.75. It touched the day's high of 4,532.40 and a low of 4,405.95.

Brokers said the rally on other Asian equity markets with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rising by 2.96 per cent and encouraging quarterly earnings by blue-chip companies mainly buoyed trading sentiment.

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They said sentiment turned bullish on steady news of good quarterly earnings by pivotals led by ITC Ltd, and positive economic data boosted trading sentiment.

Major gainers that supported the Sensex were Reliance Industries, Infosys Technologies, ICICI Bank, ITC Ltd and Maruti Suzuki. All the five carry nearly 34 per cent weight on the index.

Indian Sports News|Sports News

Colombo: Sri Lanka face an uphill battle to save the third Test against Pakistan after closing on 183 for three chasing a huge 492-run victory target on Thursday.

The hosts started their chase positively with an opening stand of 83 either side of tea, but lost the wickets of Malinda Warnapura (31), Tharanga Paranavitana (73) and Mahela Jayawardene (two) in the final session.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara, dropped on 40 by Younus Khan, was unbeaten on 50 at the close with Thilan Samaraweera on 20.

The biggest challenge for the hosts will be the leg spin of Danish Kaneria, who followed his first innings five-wicket haul with two for 56 from 16 overs.

Kaneria found sharp turn and bounce on the dusty-dry pitch, snaring the left-handed Warnapura at leg slip and finding the outside edge of Jayawardene's bat with a big leg break.

Off spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik also applied pressure, the latter claiming the wicket of Paranavitana caught at short leg.

Pakistan set the hosts a daunting target when they declared shortly after lunch on 425 for nine having added 125 runs during the day.

Pakistan resumed on 300 for five and Sri Lanka struck early with Jayawardene taking a fine diving slip catch off a thick outside edge to remove Kamran Akmal, who had scored a brisk 74 from 80 balls including seven fours and a six.

The breakthrough ended a punishing 133-run sixth-wicket stand between Akmal and Shoaib Malik.

Malik top-scored for Pakistan, riding his luck in the morning as Sangakkara missed a catch and stumping, with 134 from 240 deliveries including 13 fours and two sixes.

S.Africa to World Cup fans: enjoy, then go home!

Johannesburg: As South Africa gears up to host next year's football World Cup, it is taking steps to make sure the fans go home when it's over. South Africa, the strongest economy on the continent, has an estimated 3 million to 5 million undocumented African immigrants in a population of 47 million, according to the South African Institute of Race Relations, and their presence has already sparked bloodshed.

Now some are predicting eased entry procedures for the monthlong tournament will make things worse. George Khola, 36, a Ghanaian who sells fruit and vegetables at a Johannesburg market, is sure that the migrants numbers will soar with the approach of the games. "This is the chance," he said. "The whole of West Africa will come."

Others say that with or without the World Cup, the migrants will keep coming in search of jobs, or as refugees from persecution and poverty. "We know that South Africa is a magnet for migration on the continent," said Morne Fourie of the government agency that regulates immigration. Dr. Darshan Vigneswaran, a migration expert at Johannesburg's University of Witwatersrand, says they'll keep coming because entry is easy enough by paying a bribe at the border.

The government says it is working on ways to balance welcoming the fans and making this an event for the whole continent, without compromising borders. "This is Africa's World Cup, not just South Africa's," Fourie said.

South Africa is spending nearly $145 million to streamline entry for the games. It is the first World Cup host to offer an "event visa" for visitors from countries lacking visa-free arrangements with the host government. They will have to show a purchased match ticket, an address while in South Africa and a return ticket home. Immigration officials will run spot checks on the addresses and deport overstayers. But finding them could be difficult. Once inside South Africa, it should be easy to melt in among the illegal immigrants already here.

Hodge left out as Australia name 30-member CT squad

Melbourne: With a view to build a team for the 2011 World Cup, Australian selectors included three new faces while leaving out batsman Brad Hodge in the preliminary squad of 30 for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in September in South Africa.

Tasmania wicketkeeper Tim Paine, Victoria spinner Jon Holland and New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques figured in the probables' list for the September 22 to October 5 tournament. The squad must be trimmed to 15 players by August 23.

The squad does not include controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who was sent back home from England on disciplinary grounds just before the start of Twenty20 World Cup besides scrapping his Cricket Australia contract.

Fast bowler Brett Lee, who suffered a side-strain injury just before the first Ashes Test, and injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson also made the cut.

National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said the squad was picked with a view to rebuild a side for the 2011 World Cup as well as to make it strong enough to defend the Champions Trophy title which they won in India in 2006.

"The Australian side is currently in a rebuilding phase as we prepare for the 2011 ICC World Cup, following the loss of so many important players from the 2007 World Cup-winning team.

The ICC Champions Trophy is a key event in international cricket and a very important one for Australia as we look to lift our ODI performances to retain this trophy," Hilditch said.

"The squad recognises the performances of our proven one-day international players, the strong performance of the Australia A side in the recent one-day series against Pakistan A and the performances of our interstate players in the Ford Ranger Cup. The squad sees the inclusion of several exciting young players who we see as potentially very important to our future including Phillip Hughes, Callum Ferguson, Moises Henriques, Jon Holland, Tim Paine and Clinton McKay," Hilditch said.

Test cricket not dying: Ganguly

London: Refusing to paint a gloomy picture of Test cricket, former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said the five-day game poses no serious threat from other formats and for a player it will always be the ultimate form of cricket.

With the ever-growing popularity of T20 cricket, there is growing fear that the traditional format of the game is in danger of dying a silent death, but Ganguly would beg to differ. "Test cricket will survive and other cricket will also survive because Test cricket has to survive," Ganguly told reporters today at Oxford, where he is attending the ICC's History Conference. "Test cricket is the ultimate form of cricket and I know for sure players will be remembered with what they do in Test matches," he added.

Ganguly praised current Indian team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said the side has what it takes to be at the top of world cricket. "India is a fantastic team at present. If they keep performing as they have in the last two or probably three, four, five years, in future they will definitely be the number one in the world," said India's most successful skipper. Ganguly had some special word of praise for Gautam Gambhir, who recently rose to the number one spot in ICC Test batsmen rankings. "Gambhir and Dhoni are fantastic players. I am particularly very happy to see Gambhir getting there, being the number one Test batsmen because that's what complete batting is all about," Ganguly said. "I have seen him young, he is a left-hander and it is great to see him do good for India," he added.